This years most viral photo is also the most heartbreaking

Seen by over 6 million people in just 3 days, this photo is quickly becoming 2018’s most viral photo, and it is also the most heartbreaking.

Jordan Simons, a Travel Videographer & Photographer, posted a photo from Bali to his social media platforms just three days ago. He never expected it to be shared and seen by so many people but it is quickly becoming this year’s most viral photo and a reminder that we need to be better as humans!

In 2014 Simons sold all his possessions, quit his job and began to travel the world. He found that he instantly loved travelling and wanted to make it a bigger part of his life, so he decided to document his adventures with a video blog.

He also wanted to use his platforms to make a difference.

A few days ago he posted these photos to Instagram and Twitter with the idea that a few people might see them and change their habits. He never thought that it would be seen and shared by so many people who have started speaking about our global pollution problem!

The photo shows a beach in Bali called Batu Bolong, which is covered in trash, but the reality is that the trash does not come from Bali alone… it is being washed up from all over the world!

Three days after posting the photos, they had been seen by more than 6.5 million people from around the world and that’s just on his own Twitter post. This doesn’t include all the reposts and news companies re-sharing it.

“Honestly I’ve fallen a bit out of love with social media over the past year but this is a great reminder of the good that it can do. If even a small percentage of those millions decide to do something positive then that’s good to be a good thing right!

Also massive respect for Olivia being willing to lay down in this in her bikini – a long shower was needed after!”

The world is creating more plastic trash each year and much of is ending up in landfills or in the environment and our oceans.

A study by the University of California Santa Barbara’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) found that 8 million metric tons of plastic trash end up in our oceans every year potentially harming marine animals and ecosytems.

The non-profit environmental group Ocean Conservancy said during its International Coastal Cleanup day in September, 789,138 volunteers in more than 100 countries collected about 20.5 million pounds of trash.

Topping the list of items found polluting our beaches and waterways were 2.4 million cigarette butts, which contain plastic filters. That was followed by 1.7 million food wrappers and 1.6 million plastic water bottles.

“Over the years, we have seen plastics creeping into the top-ten list, displacing items like rope, beverage cans and paper bags,” Nicholas Mallos, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program, said in a statement.

“But this is the first year that all ten of the top-ten items collected are made of plastic. Given that plastic production is rising, this could be the start of a long and troubling trend.”

So What Happened Next?

Although the social reach is great and the photo shoot was challenging people’s perceptions, Simons wanted this to go one step further and actually create a positive change in people’s attitudes. Read his update here.

Sources: Good Things Guy Interview

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Brent Lindeque is the founder and man in charge at Good Things Guy.
Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.